Dave and Jenny Marrs' 40 Best Decorating Ideas

Dave and Jenny Marrs love small-town America, particularly their hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. The husband-and-wife team brings historic homes into the present with incredible renovations that are full of character. We’ve pulled together Dave and Jenny's best Fixer to Fabulous designs. The Marrs’ coolest kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and living spaces lie ahead.

This classic sun porch is both a calming retreat for the homeowner and a sanctuary for her beloved foster kittens. Dave and Jenny brought the “catio” to life by constructing custom cat condos — divided cubicles complete with cozy cat beds beneath a built-in bench. The bench is perfectly positioned for sun-worshipping fur babies to bask in the porch’s prime morning light. A “cat skyrise” with circular cutouts invites curious climbers to explore, and a cute pendant light found by Jenny in a vintage shop in Fayetteville enhances the space’s “granny-chic” vibe.

What was once a dark and imposing bar adjacent to the living room is now a chic and inviting sitting room with midcentury style. Dave created a white oak display case with offset shelving for the client’s wine collection and honored the home’s original construction by recycling screen doors from the old kitchen to fashionably conceal drinkware.

Some homeowners might shy away from bold, era-specific design elements, like this soaring midcentury stone fireplace with an angular metallic embellishment. Not the owners of this 1979 abode, who wanted to respect the home’s original style but make their living room brighter and more family friendly. Dave and Jenny installed wide-plank LVP flooring and swathed walls and trim in white to absorb natural light and play foil to the show-stealing fireplace.

Jenny infused this airy space with a depth of organic color inspired by hues found in the stacked stone fireplace. Upstairs, Dave constructed replicas of the midcentury home’s original decorative balusters and applied them to the landing railing for a cohesive effect that celebrates the home’s history.

Step outside the “typical” box with colorful and unexpected ideas. Jenny was given full creative control over this home remodel, and she transformed the dated space with a fresh design. Keeping the fireplace wall as the focal point of the living room, she painted it a soothing blue-gray. A custom-built, black-walnut mantel and firebox bring in refined architectural detail.

Dave and Jenny’s charming Bentonville, Arkansas, farmhouse, built in 1903, is brimming with comforting and kid-friendly details to help their family of seven live with joy and ease. In the living room, Jenny wrapped a wall of built-in shelves in calming gray-beige paint. An inviting sectional is upholstered in a fabric that won’t put the wear and tear of daily life on display. A rustic wood-burning stove adds even more warmth to the cozy space.

Jenny and Dave decked the halls — and staircase — of their historic farmhouse to celebrate the holidays, hanging stockings made from Turkish rugs from a swag of greenery and displaying festive artwork by their kids on the gallery wall. A nativity they purchased while on a trip to Assisi, Italy, where the first live nativity was created, is displayed on the under-stair built-ins.

Though it’s low on square footage, this living room’s vaulted ceiling helps it live large. To capitalize on the soaring ceiling, Dave and Jenny installed large beams that run the length of the room and placed cedar planks in a chevron pattern between them. The result is a warm, character-filled space that feels bigger than it is. The room’s neutral color palette allows the homeowners’ souvenirs from their world travels to take center stage.

The Marrses brought their renovation expertise across the Atlantic to Italy, where they transformed a 200-year-old villa into a light-filled vacation rental. In the living room, they cut through a meter of concrete and stone to install two new casement windows, wrapping the wall in built-in shelves and welcoming window seats. A duo of plush, moss-green sofas invite cozy conversation.

This lakefront living room had great bones with a wall of built-ins and loads of natural light, but it was begging for a refresh. Jenny and Dave swathed the space in a new coat of soft gray paint, refinished the floors in a darker, more sophisticated stain and installed larger doors onto the deck to infuse more sunlight into the space and encourage indoor-outdoor living. The homeowners love playing games with their grandchildren, so Dave made them a custom gaming coffee table with removable tray-style drawers that can house board games and puzzles for easy playtime.

To make the living room of The Welcome Inn — Dave and Jenny's Rogers, Arkansas, vacation rental — look modern while still maintaining its charm, Jenny installed sophisticated paneling on the living room walls, then topped the look off with cozy furniture. This bright space is oh so inviting.

The owners of this 1970s home wanted to lean into its midcentury modern aesthetic and Jenny heard them loud and clear, choosing a peppy green paint for the brand-new cabinets and open shelving. “It wouldn't work in my house, but it really works in this house because it’s so funky and time period specific,” Jenny says.

Not only did Dave and Jenny reconfigure the location of this home’s laundry room in order to create a walk-in pantry, but they also increased the size of the cabinets for more storage in the kitchen itself. To the right of the fridge is a fabulous coffee station, complete with an espresso machine, coffee and mugs.

In the Marrs’ beautiful farmhouse kitchen, the palette is serene, with white walls and pewter-hued cabinetry punctuated with patinaed hardware. For the holidays, Jenny adorns the open shelving with organic-leaning decor, from miniature evergreens to a pinecone Christmas tree. Here, they also display plates they received as wedding gifts and handmade dishware inherited from Dave’s parents.

In their light and airy kitchen, Jenny adds subtle touches of festive flair for the holidays, including hanging a beautiful cranberry-hued wreath on the range hood, which she’s had since college. Simple velvet ribbons — on the sconces and wreath — add softness and sophistication, while earthy accents, like a variety of cutting boards, a copper teapot and earthenware utensil crock, ground the space.

This sophisticated kitchen is an entertainer’s dream, with an island fit for a crowd. New ceiling-height cabinets offer ample storage for everyday dishware and special occasion serving pieces alike. All-black cabinetry with gold hardware and finishes strikes a bold and sophisticated note. Jenny’s choice of white countertops with dramatic veining is both durable and stylish.

Dave and Jenny brought this English country kitchen vision to life with thoughtful touches from floor to ceiling. With a stunning blue range, custom-made cabinets, herringbone wood floors and a mosaic backsplash complete with handmade tile, this cooking space is cozy and alluring.

Nestled in the woods of Bentonville, Arkansas, this home is surrounded by trees and greenery, so the Marrses brought the outside in with muted deep green kitchen cabinets. Paired with a classic marble tile backsplash and white quartz countertops, the browns, greens and blacks throughout the space boast a soft, timeless aesthetic. Brass pendant lights illuminate a ready-for-gatherings island.

Sleek stained concrete floors make everyday kitchen messes easy to tidy up — a smart option for any cooking space. The Marrses installed new cabinets and painted them slate blue, which pop against black countertops. Dave built a custom wine rack out of steel.

A stunning new kitchen stands in the footprint of a former stable in the Italian villa renovated by the Marrses. The duo chose new terra-cotta floor tiles and handcrafted casement windows to evoke the rich history of the 200-year-old home. Olive green paint echoes the olive trees outside, and matte black appliances infuse a chic touch. Dave and Jenny selected the counter and backsplash marble from the same quarry in Carrara, Italy, where legendary Italian artist Michaelangelo sourced stone to sculpt David.

In the kitchen of this midcentury modern home, Dave and Jenny altered the layout, stealing space from the former laundry room to create a walk-in pantry. But some original elements, like this cozy window seat adjacent to the breakfast table, were too good to alter. Wrapped in avocado green cabinetry, the cushy hangout offers a view of the homeowner’s brand-new backyard, an entertainer’s paradise with an outdoor kitchen and a vast covered patio.

For this pet-loving family with two kids, the Marrses made sure to incorporate materials that could handle daily wear and tear from paws and tennis shoes alike. They chose a medium-tone PVC for the floors and installed a new slider door for much-needed indoor-outdoor flow. Decor-wise, they kept things simple. The round table and upholstered chairs allow the family to gather and linger in comfort. The three-armed light fixture honors the home’s midcentury modern roots.

This home’s small footprint didn’t stop Jenny and Dave from making room for dinner guests. Their secret weapon? A built-in banquette that allows more people to gather around the table than bulkier chairs would. The homeowners can layer on different pillows and throws throughout the season to keep things fresh and cozy.

In this light-filled dining room, Dave removed the preexisting faux ceiling to reveal exposed floor joists, which add warmth and character. With the new higher ceiling, chic cane-back chairs and touches of gold, the result is a cozy yet sophisticated dining space.

Each bedroom in this restored Italian villa features an en suite bathroom, a true luxury. The Marrses amped up the romance in the primary bedroom with a handmade bed, constructed by Dave from local olive wood, and a statement-making chandelier. Local olive wood also comprises the herringbone-patterned floors.

Dave and Jenny made this primary bedroom feel even more open by wrapping walls and the vaulted ceiling in fresh white paint and removing old carpet in favor of durable LVP flooring. The biggest change was the reconfiguration of the homeowners’ closet, which was originally two small, separate spaces that the Marrses combined to form one beautiful and functional storage space.

This small bedroom was functional but lacked a sense of serenity. Enter Jenny with her expert use of color. Here she chose a muted, soft hue that envelops the space in a warm hug. She added a cozy sitting area that’s simple but invites relaxation, with a chair, a small table and an interesting work of art.

You can't go wrong with fresh white wall paint, but sometimes a stunning statement wall makes a design even better. Here, a modern platform bed dressed in cozy whites and classic stripes sits against a textured, muted blue-green wall. Jenny also added an oversized pendant, a chic way to bring scale and shape into the space.

A bedroom should be a home's ultimate retreat. And here, Jenny and Dave delivered, utilizing calming shades, plush fabrics and natural materials. Sage green walls add soft color, sheer drapes infuse texture and movement, and the dark wood nightstand offers warmth.

Jenny envisioned a sumptuous, spa-like atmosphere for this primary bathroom, which she and Dave outfitted with a bathtub-shower combo. Jenny selected small square terrazzo tiles for the floor, which “look like polished concrete,” she says. The wall tile was hung horizontally in a straight pattern, versus brick-laid, to imbue a midcentury modern effect that celebrates the home’s 1970s aesthetic.

These homeowners declared a love for pink, so Jenny made sure to incorporate the color into their home. She selected a subtle pink tile, a fun addition to the main bathroom. The Marrses extended the tile beyond the shower, stretching it behind the generous soaker tub and above the vanity for an extra peek of pretty color.

Wet rooms are a luxe experience. The all-in-one setting houses a shower and a bathtub, creating an instant spa-like atmosphere. Here, small square tiles ground the room, while variegated porcelain wraps the rest of the space in a calming blue.

When the Marrses realized this guest bathroom was right next to the home's backyard pool area, they used a little innovation to add a door that leads to the outside. Now, this deep blue tiled space serves double duty: It's a guest bathroom and an accessible pool shower for pre- or post-swimming.

This serene space features a standing shower and a deep tub. "The floor tile is so intricate, it could almost be mistaken for a rug," says Jenny. Besides the tile, she infused special details into the room like eye-catching hardware and calming art above the tub.

Dave and Jenny removed a small closet in the main bedroom of their Rock the Block home to create a reading nook. Green wall paneling, high-end wallpaper and a bench seat make the space attractive and functional. New doors create porch access directly from the main bedroom.

This third-floor retreat offers plenty of space for kids' toys and storage. Jenny's freehand wall murals add color and interest: Scenic mountains adorn one wall, while marshy and oceanic images decorate the others. One side of the playroom even includes a custom climbing wall for kids — built by Dave, of course.

Dave and Jenny transformed a room at the end of the hallway in this home into a study suite for kids. Built-in desks, task lighting and a simple chalkboard-painted wall make the space fun and functional.

It was no small feat, but this English country coop Dave built is an inspiration. Guests at The Welcome Inn, formerly a 160-acre orchard and working farm that the Marrses transformed into a gorgeous Airbnb, can enjoy fresh eggs, compliments of Dave and Jenny.

At Podere Camposasso, which translates to “the rocky field” in Italian, Jenny and Dave worked their makeover magic, transforming this 200-year-old villa into a rustic vacation rental with all the contemporary amenities a visitor could want. On the outdoor patio, sleek modern dining chairs sidle up to an extra-long wide-planked dining table where guests can gather under the shade of olive trees and soak in the beauty of the Italian countryside.